The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-01
AFRAID OF THE FLOOD.
RICE PLANTERS ANXIOUS ABOUT
THEIR CROPS.

What They Think of the Chances OF
Escape-The Storm in the Gulf Con-
slant Menace-The Condition Of the
Plantations Along the River-Argyle
Island Poorly Protected.
The rice planters are very much disturbed
over the prospects Of freshet, though they
are taking the matter calmly, as it will he
not less than q week from to-day before the
high water will begin to make its appear
ance here. At present they are anxiously
watching the reports from the flooded
district to form an estimate Of what the
volume of water is. They do not regard
the height to which it rises in Augusta so
much as the length of time it remains
above the freshet mark, for the latter indi-
Gates the volume, and gives some idea OF
what may be expected here.
At midnight last night the water had
been above the freshet mark for forty-three
hours, and that made the planters uneasy
II it stands at that height tor another day it
viii neon that there is water enough
In the river to hazard the safety of all the
plantations that are not thoroughly protect
ed. The storm that is lingering around the
Gulf makes all probabilities rather uncer-
tam, however, as good deal
depends upon its actions. If it re-
mains there and is dissipated the
water may run out fast enough
TO leave but little danger of food unless
the rains continue in the region above Au-
gusta and through the mountains, but if the
storm takes a northeast course and comes
up this way there viii probably be the
largest and most disastrous freshet that has
ever been known. The water is standing
at higher point now in Augusta than it
has ever reached before, though the volume
Is not 50 great as it has been. The hope is
that the river will fall rapidly and the vol
ume OF water will be reduced before it
reaches this section.
The marshes viii take great deal of the
water and afford an immense relief in that
way. The sap is now running and overy
tree and every leaf acts as pump, and the
amount OF evaporation that will take place
from the 240 miles OF marshes that will have
to be overfowcd before any danger can
come to the lower river plantations is enor
nous. The marshes are very dry, and it
will take an incalculable amount of
water to fill them and that must
be done before the food can come
lower down the river than they are. 1t is
difficult at present to tell what the chances
are as there are SO many contingencies
TO be considered that it is impossible to form
an idea of what the result will be, but the
planters all hope and believe that the river
will begin now TO fall and that tho mi ines
will act as q safety valve to let off the sur
plus water and prevent an extensive over
flow. The high water will reach the planta-
tions at neap tide, and that too, win be an
advantage as it will give about two feet
more to work on.
The plantations on the upper part of
Argyle Island will all be overlooked if the
freshet amounts to anything at all. They
are not protected by entertainments and the
water will have free access to them, but the
planting is not very extensive there as the
damage done by last years freshct has
rather discouraged the planters, and except
what the negroes have grown there is but
little to be injured.
Except the Potter and Gibson plantations,
those on the lower part of the island are
not protected sufficiently, and freshet
would be most disastrous. The Potter and
Gibson places and those on the South Caro-
lima shore are thoroughly well protected by
freshet banks, which are in good order and
capable of withstanding any food that will
come down.